Hypodermic syringe construction



April 27, 1943. A. E sMrrH HYPODERMIC SYRINGE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 24,y 1941 fm.. mm, ,WS h 1 w/ m i.. y um .B E 4 1 zw w m -d u .l a nu d M/, f 3

Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYPODERMIG SYRINGE CONSTRUCTION Arthur E. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 24, 1941, Serial No. 384,879

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hypodermic syringe constructions.

The general object of the invention is to provide an ampule containing syringe including novel means for introducing a medicament into the liquid vehicle within the ampule.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ampule containing syringe wherein a. medicament is introduced into the ampule after the ampule is positioned in the syringe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel syringe.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section thru my improved syringe and ampule;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. l

of the upper end of the syringe and ampule showing the plunger rod out of engagement with the ampule stopper;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the inner end of the plunger rod;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a syringe and ampule partly in section showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary central sectional view thru the lower end of the syringe and ampule shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the modication.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters I have indicated my improved hypodermic syringe generally at I0. As shown thel syringe Ill includes a barrel portion I2 closed at one end by a removable cap I3 which is threadedly received thereto as at I4. The opposite end -of the barrel I2 is shown as closed by a fixed tip member I5 having a longitudinal reduced central aperture I6 therethru and including a reduced threaded needle receiving end I 7. Intermediate the length thereof the barrel I2 includes a nger grip member I8. The cap I3 includes a telescopic ampule engaging member I9 having an enlarged head 2B thereon. A plunger rod 2| extends thru the cap I3 and the telescopic head 20 and has a palm engaging head member 22 thereon.

Surroundingrthe plunger rod 2| within the cap and telescopic member a coiled spring 23 is provided which resiliently urges the telescopic member .I 9 to an extended position. Adjacent the end thereof opposite the palm engaging member 22 the plunger rod 2I has an enlarged collar 24 secured thereon and the end of the plunger rod is bevelled as at 25.

Opening thru the tapered end 25 the plunger rod is hollow forming a recess 26 therein on the side Wall of which I provide a iiat spring member 21 which includes an inwardly directed shoulder 28. Behind the spring 2'I the wall of the recess 26 has a groove 29 therein to allow movement of the spring.

My invention is adapted for use in preparing solutions for injection and wherein the drug or medicament is kept from the'vehicle such as distilled water until ready for use. To accomplish this a pellet is positioned in the plunger rod recess 26 and is inserted to a position above the shoulder 28 of the spring 21 which acts to prevent the pellet 30 from becoming accidentally dislodged.

The end I'I of the syringe is adapted to receive a standard type double ended hypodermic needle 3I. Y

For use in the syringe IU I provide an ampule which is indicated generally at 35. As shown the ampule includes a hollow cylindrical glass body portion 36 closed at the lower end by a rubber stopper 31 and at the upper end by a rubber piston stopper 38.

The stopper 3'I has an enlarged flange 39 thereon which overlaps the adjacent end of the body 36. Opening thru the inner face thereof the stopper 3'I has a recess 40 therein. l

'I'he stopper 38 is within the ampule body A36 and is spaced below the top thereof. The stopper 38 has a recess 42 therein opening thru the outer face thereof and a recess 43 therein opening thru the inner face thereof with a thin partition or diaphragm 44 between the two recesses.

Between the two Stoppers 31 and 38 the ampule body is lled with a suitable medicament vehicle such as distilled water.

In use an operator preferably places the double ended needle 3l on the syringe end I'I and removes the cap I3 and inserts the ampule 35 into the syringe barrel I2. The operator then places a pellet 30 in the recess 26 of the-plunger rod and thereafter replaces the cap I3. As the cap I3 is replaced the head 20 of the telescopic niember I9 engages the end of the ampule and forces it towards the tip I5. As the ampule is thus moved the upper end of the needle I6 passes thru the stopper 3l into the recess 4i) therein.

At the same time the end 25 of the plunger rod enters the recess 42 of the stopper 38 and uponcontinued movement pierces the partition 44 and enters the stopper recess 43 thus communicating with the interior of the ampule. When the end of the plunger rod enters the ampule the vehicle therein contacts the pellet 3E! and in that time completely dissolves it thus forming a freshly prepared solution.

To eject the fluid from the ampule the operator moves the plunger rod 2l towards the tip I5 and the head 24 of the plunger rod forces the ampule stopper 38 towards the stopper 3T thereby forcing the fluid in the ampule into and thru the needle 3l.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have indicated a hypodermic syringe generally at which is similar to the previously described syringe I0 and like portions thereof are indicated by similarly primed reference numerals. Furthermore within the syringe k 50 I have shown an ampule 5| which is similar to the previously described ampule 35 and like portions thereof are indicated by similarly primed reference numerals.

Mounted on the threaded end Il of the syringe 50 I provide an adapter member 52. vAs shown the adapter member 52 includes a body portion 53 and a reduced externally threaded end portion 54. Opening thru the end thereof the body 53 has a threaded recess 55 therein in which the threaded end I1 of the syringe is positioned.

Within the recess 55 and extending upward. therefrom a predetermined distance I provide a hollow tube 56 which is iixedly mounted in the portion 54 of the adapter and the end of which is bevelled as at 5T. Opening thru the threaded end 54 the adapter has a reduced aperture 58 therein which communicates with the interior of the tube 56. Surrounding the aperture 58 the end face of the threaded portion 54 is countersunk as at 59 to receive the bulbous portion of a double ended hypodermic needle 6I to be later described. Adjacent the tapered end 5T of the tube 55 a medicament pellet 62 is placed within the tube 56. The pellet 62 is cylindrical and has a diameter which is substantially equal to theinterior diameter of the tube 55 so that the pellet is held in place by friction.

In operation after the adapter 52 is positioned on the end I1' of the syringe 50 and the double ended needle 6I is positioned on the adapter, the operator places the ampule 5l within the barrel of the syringe 50 and replaces the cap I3 which forces the ampule towards the tip I5' as previously described in connection with syringe I0. As the ampule 5I is thus moved towards the tip I5 the sharpened end 51 of the adapter tube 55 pierces the stopper 31 and enters the recess 40' whereupon the liquid vehicle in the ampule dissolves the medicament pellet 62.

Thereafter the freshly prepared solution within the ampule 5I may be discharged therefrom in the same manner as previously described in connection with the syringe I0 by moving the plunger rod 2|' towards the tip I5' the head 24 of which forces the stopper 38 towards the stopper 31 thereby forcing the liquid into the adapter tube 56 and thence thru the double ended needle 6 I The plunger 24' has a plane lower face as shown in Fig. 6.

The needles 3l and 6| are held in place by cap members 3Ia and Sla which have threaded sockets 3io and SIb respectively which engage similarly threaded ends 3Ic and Blc on the syringe and adapter respectively. The needles 3l and 6| include soft metal balls 3Id and Gld which are engaged by the ends 3Ic and Bic and by the cap members 3la and Bla to form a joint.

This type of needle mount is old in the art and forms no part of the present invention.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a novel hypodermic syringe and ampule therefor which are simplein construction and highly eflicient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a hypodermic syringe, an elongated barrel, an end member for each end of the barrel, an ampule in said barrel, said ampule having a cork in each end, and one of said end members having an inwardly projecting sharpened tube thereon, said'tube being adapted to receive a medicinal pellet, the cork adjacent said one end member having a puncturable portion.

2. In a hypodermic syringe, a barrel, an end member for the barrel, an ampule in said barrel, said ampule having a cork in each end, one of said corks having a puncturable portion, said end member having a hollow cork piercing member projecting forwardly therefrom, and a medicinal pellet in said hollow cork piercing member.

3. In a hypodermic syringe, a barrel, an end member mounted on said barrel, an ampulein said barrel, said ampule having a puncturable piston cork therein at one end, a plunger slidable in the barrel to move the piston cork, said plunger having a hollow cork piercing member projecting forwardly therefrom and opening into the barrel and adapted to receive a medicinal tablet and a cork in the other end of said ampule.

4. In a hypodermic syringe, a barrel, an end member at each end of the barrel, an ampule in said barrel, said ampule having a cork in each end, one of said corks having a puncturable portion, one of said end members having a pointed member projecting forwardly therefrom and adapted to pierce said puncturable portion, said pointed member being adapted to receive a medicinal pellet and means on the pointed member to hold a pellet in place.

5. In a hypodermic syringe, a barrel, an end member, said end member and barrel having coacting threaded portions, an ampule in said barrel, said ampule having a cork in each end, one of said corks having a puncturable portion, a plunger slidable into the barrel,v said plunger having a hollow pointed member projecting forwardly therefrom and adapted to pierce said puncturable portion, said hollow pointed member being adapted to receive a medicinal pellet and means on the hollow pointed member to hold the pellet in place.

6. In a hypodermic syringe, a barrel, an end member, said end member and barrel having coacting threaded portions, an ampule in said barrel, said ampule having a plunger cork slidable in one end thereof, said cork having a thin puncturable portion, a plunger slidable into the barrel, said plunger having a head thereon adapted to engage the plunger cork, a hollow pointed member projecting forwardly from said plunger head, said hollow pointed member being adapted to receive a medicinal pellet, and a leaf spring in said hollow pointed member and projecting into the hollow pointed member and adapted to engage a pellet in the hollow pointed member t0 hold the pellet in place and a cork in the other end of said ampule.

7. In a hypodermic syringe, a barrel, an end member mounted on each end of the'barrel, a plunger movable through one of the end members, an ampule in the barrel, said ampule having a stopper in each end thereof, the other end member having a hole extending therethrough and an adapter including a portion engaging the said other end member, said adapter having a tube therein extending through said hole and into the barrel, said tube having a forward end adapted t0 pierce one of said Stoppers in said ampule, said tube being adapted to receive a medicinal pellet which has a diameter substantially equal to the interior diameter of the tube so that the pellet is rictionally held in place, and said adapter having a portion at the forward end thereof engageable with a hypodermic 5 needle, said adapter having a needle receiving hole therein.

ARTHUR E. SMITH. 

